DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES
MASTERS IN FRENCH
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
AFF 801 Translation and Interpretation I
Study of techniques and problems of translation. Translation of texts (English-French,
French-English) on various subjects and from various sources such as magazines, novels
and scientific works. Laboratory exercises in simultaneous interpretation from English or
Swahili to French, French to English or Swahili.
AFF 802 Aspects of the French Languages I
Grammatical Study of the French language. Areas to be examined will include types of
sentences, grammatical categories, functions, verbal and noun places, the verbal system,
prepositions and conjunctions.
AFF 803 Phonology
A study of the French phonology particularly forms the functional (Ecole De Prague)
point of view. The study will include the identification of French phonemes, minimal
pairs distinctive features, variants, neutralization, archiphonemes and supra-segmental.
AFF 804 Semantics and Lexicology
Study of the basic notions of semantics and lexicology as applied to French. These will
include reference, synonymy, homonymy and antonymy, meaning and use, meaning and
Significance, context reference and sense, semantic fields, lexical connotation and
denotation, word composition and derivation, neologisms.
AFF 805 Field Methods in Language and Literature
Basic research methods and techniques as they apply to language and Literature in
general. Field techniques for collection of data e.g. questionnaires, interviews etc,
analyzing and reporting of the findings.
AFF 806 History of African and Caribbean Literature in French
The history of literature in Caribbean and African French-speaking countries. The search
for identity assimilation, negritude, African socialism fight against corruption and
dictatorship.
AFF 807 Seminar in Literature
A detailed study of one or several authors, from France or from another French –
speaking country, such as Cesaire, proust, etcs. Depicting a given period, for example
before independence and highlighting various themes.
AFF 808 Theory and Practice of Textual Criticism
2
A study of critical works in French exemplifying different approaches, historical and
biographical, philological, psychoanalytical, structural. Practical exercises in various
types of criticism.
AFF 809 French Language in the Modern World
The French language in the world, as mother tongue and as second or foreign language.
interference between languages: Creoles, influence of immigration, influence of English.
Levels of language: geographical, social, professional variants. Influence of audio visual
communication. Institutional French purism, grammar school Academicy. Changes and
trends of innovation in modern French (orthographic, phonetic lexical, syntactic and
semantic.
AFF 810 General Research Methodology
1. Introduction, the nature and functions of research methods with reference to individual
disciplines.
2. Identification and definition of research Determination of the matrix, statement of the
problem. Definition and formulation of hypotheses.
3. Formulation of research (Proposal): the title: purpose and problem: survey of the
literature: procedure: tools and time schedules. Research budgets and application for
funds.
4. Data collection: library resource (published and unpublished), note-taking
and the appraisal of source materials: field data collection, mapping, interviewing
(including questionnaire design), sampling procedures. The use of pilot projects.
5. Data tabulation and analysis: use of tables, text, figures, diagrams, plates,
statistical analysis and presentation of data: use of models. Introduction to the
use of computers in data storage and analysis.
6. Writing research reports: dissertations and thesis: preparations for writing: first
and subsequent drafts, the content and organization of the report: abstracts:
appendices: literature citation (references, footnotes: bibliography) proof-reading and
editing a report.
AFF 811 Translations and Interpretation II
Advanced study of translation and interpretation techniques. Further exercises in
translation of passages and simultaneous interpretation using French, English and
Swahili.
AFF 812 Aspects of French Language II
Further grammatical analysis of French using specific methods such as: Jean Dubois,
Generative-Transformational analysis. A Martinet’s Functional Approach or Gustave
Guillaume’s Spation temporal approach.
AFF 813 History of French Literature
A chronological review of the main currents in literature of France in relation to its
environment, the Renaissance, classicism, Surrealism Nouveau Roman, modern drama,
poetry.
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AFF 814 Stylistics
Analysis of extracts of French poems, drama, novels and didactic texts, from the XVIth
century onwards. Various approaches to text analysis shall be used based on such
authors as R. Jackbson, Charles bally and A.J. Greimas.
AFF 815 Study of Culture and Civilizations of the French-Speaking World
Specific themes such as: taboos, religion, music, in selected French speaking counties.